On a cool winter Saturday, would you prefer to be parked on a sofa eating Ho Hos and checking Facebook every 10 minutes, or would you rather be that Viking out there on the lake, deftly sipping hot cocoa with one hand and tethering a pulsing fly rod and cartwheeling trout with the other? On Monday, when someone asks, “Hey, how was your weekend?” the couch potato might actually concoct a better fiction than the angler. I know for sure which guy I’d not want to be.
Here are a few tips on places that offer good winter fishing in the North State and some perspectives on staying safe and comfortable when Jack Frost is nipping at your nose. With precious little thought and preparation, it’s really surprising how comfortable you can be for a few hours, or even all day, fishing in the winter.
Some winter anglers prefer lakes, others rivers. If you’re inclined toward moving water, two of Northern California’s “big three” above Shasta Lake are now open all year long — the upper Sacramento and Pit Rivers. (The McCloud is open only during the more traditional last Saturday in April through November 15.)
One reason you might choose running water is that you want to fish for just a few hours in the afternoon. Winter fishing in rivers is at its best during the latter half of the day, after the water warms enough to get insects moving around. Before you go, though, make sure you have a handle on flow conditions, especially if there was any rain in the recent past that might swell the rivers.
The Pit River
There seems to be a mass boycott of the Pit River going on since flows were doubled a few years ago, the consensus being that the wading is too difficult. Guides are finding far fewer anglers inclined to fish the Pit for fear of wading the higher flows. It’s true that minimum flows in the Pit 3 section, the water between Lake Britton Dam and the Pit 3 Powerhouse north of Burney, were doubled from 150 cubic feet per second to 300 cfs, but that means it isn’t the same river as before. Pit 3 is a great winter fishing opportunity, and anglers who doubt this are out of touch with current conditions.
The wading is still challenging, but when approached with care, it is nothing to worry about. All the same big boulders are there, and the water is faster and slightly higher, but the water is also much clearer than before. The clarity of the water can be a hindrance to anglers trying not to spook fish on the upper Sacramento, but it’s a plus on the Pit. All that roiled and bubbly water makes Pit River fish easier to approach without spooking them. Especially along the edges, it also is much easier than before to see whether you’re stepping into two feet of water or five.
Fishing on the Pit has never been better. Just pick a relatively nice day to fish it — cloudy is better than sunny, but either one will do. Bring a friend, a box of nymphs and a wading staff. You won’t be wading out as far in the Pit as you once did, but you don’t have to. The Pit is still a rather small river. You will need to manage a bit more line than before, and a floating strike indicator really helps. The Pit is still the easiest place to catch a wild trout in Northern California. Bring a friend, keep an eye on one another, and chances are, you will have a fun, fish-filled afternoon.
Even in the winter, the Pit is one of those terrific places where the fish are not too fussy about what nymph pattern you use. Almost any generic nymph will work, beaded or otherwise, as long as it is fished dead drift. Bird’s Nests, Gold-Ribbed Hare’s Ears, Pheasant Tail Nymphs, Black A.P. Nymphs and probably a hundred others will work just fine. Avoid fishing large, heavy nymphs on the Pit unless you have an unlimited supply and enjoy getting snagged on rocks. Keep your nymphs in the size-12-to-16 range, and you will donate far fewer flies to the river.
The Lower Sacramento
Flowing through the middle of Redding, the lower Sacramento River has been a well-known year-round fishery for decades. Although your best option when fishing larger rivers like this usually is to cover a lot of water from a drift boat on, some prefer to focus on specific seams, flats, riffles and drop-offs. There are plenty of places to wade the river, and The Fly Shop in Redding can provide free maps to most of the more popular access points in and below town.
Winter fishing on the big river is not as productive as in warmer months, but there can be windows of time when the fishing is grand. Some of my favorite fishing of the year is on cloudy or drizzly days in December, when the afternoon Baetis mayfly hatch is coming off. The fish will eat well-presented nymphs, but I crave the rare winter dry-fly opportunity. Though somewhat serendipitous, these are most apt to happen in slow-moving sections or along the bank — anywhere that funnels slow water. The fish are very sensitive to presentation, so if you can manage it, fishing downstream is best.
Baetis mayflies on the lower Sac are somewhat distinctive in that their bodies are small, about a size 18, but their wings are unusually long, about a size 16. Dry flies in either size will work if presented well, but I typically tie my own Haystack or Paradun-style versions that get the size right. Color doesn’t matter nearly as much as approximate size and the quality of the drift.
The Upper Sacramento
Don’t waste your time fishing the upper Sacramento from November through at least mid-February. Just because it’s open does not mean that fishing it is a terrific idea. If you plan on fishing the upper Sac on one of those sweet, sunny days that we sometimes get in winter bring hand grenades.
I have rarely seen fish harder to move in all my life. I think it has to do with the clarity of the water and the fact that hatches are at their lowest ebb of the year. There aren’t a lot of bugs moving around, and it seems the trout aren’t expending much energy until things warm up a bit. The insects may start moving around more in February, March, and April, but by then, stream flows are often so high that wading the river is a safety concern.
Baum Lake
You would be hard-pressed to find an impoundment with more trout in it, wild and otherwise, than Baum Lake. It’s not quite fishing in a hatchery, but it’s about as close as it gets. Its next-door neighbor is the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Crystal Lake Hatchery. Baum Lake can offer some the best winter angling around. It’s also one of the few places where you can find good fishing without the need for a boat.
During the winter, Baum is loaded with midges and small Baetis mayflies, and fish gorge on them. Just as it’s hard to satisfy yourself by eating popcorn, fish have to eat a lot of midges in a day to sustain themselves, which is great news for anglers. The most common scenario is fishing midge patterns under floating strike indicators, and it’s always an effective option. Few people fish Baum in any other way. But when fish are rising, why would you fish subsurface?
Even in a pram or pontoon boat, you will not need to go far to get into fish. Probably the best area to fish is directly downstream from the boat-launch ramp. Anywhere between the parking lot and the island is good water, but the higher up you are on the reservoir, the more fish there are. Most of the best so-called “still” waters in the North State really are hybrids, lakes created by damming rivers, and their waters never are really all that still. Baum Lake is no exception. There is slowly moving water here, and vast pods of trout work this area.
Anchor your boat with the intention of fishing the water “downstream” of it. Flip your nymph and indicator off to the side and start shaking out line at the same speed as the current carrying the indicator. Let your indicator dead drift down as far as you dare, then hold on to your line while the nymph rises toward the surface. Even after your nymph is at the surface, pause for a moment and let it hang. For some reason, fish will still hit a stationary fly, although its easy to break them off when this happens.
During the winter, the surface weed growth present during warmer months at Baum is not there. This opens up the moving water just upstream from the parking lot, and that water is also full of trout. It is shallower than down below, so the fish are slightly more wary. Another good area is on the other side of the parking lot, where Crystal Lake dumps into Baum.
The current of upper Baum Lake flows right past the parking lot, and it’s also often possible to hook good fish by wading this section. These fish aren’t pushovers, though. They demand a reasonably good imitation of what’s hatching, a flawless presentation, and persistence.
Since midges and Baetis mayflies are both fairly small, nymphs for each can be used interchangeably. Good nymphs to fish include the Beaded Zebra Midge, Chironomid Pupa, Brassies, Mercer’s Micro May, Pheasant Tail Nymphs, and Mercer’s Gidget, all size 16 to 18. Any small, sparse nymph ought to get attention.
Baum can offer good dry-fly fishing during the winter, but with regard to patterns, think tiny spring creek flies such as the Hat Creek Spider, Low Water Baetis, or Mercer’s Missing Link in size 16 to 18. Bring 6X tippet material and lengthen your leader to at least 12 feet.
Lewiston Lake
Lewiston Lake, about an hour west of Redding, is another great winter fish factory. The best area is above and below the Pine Cove launch ramp. I usually start fishing just below the island directly upstream from the ramp, and there are almost always fish feeding there.
Sometimes the flows from Trinity Dam are slight, and the water is fairly still. When this happens, it becomes a challenge to focus your attention on a strike indicator, minute . . . after minute . . . after minute. As soon as you look away, of course, you will often get a strike. When the water is still, fish cruise around more in search of food. Fortunately, there are plenty of fish looking.
When there is a significant current below the dam, the fishing is generally hot, even when the weather’s not. Anchor along a seam between fast and slow-moving water — that’s usually where the fish stack up. Cast into the moving water, and if you can arrange it, position yourself so your line comes taut and the fly swings toward the surface somewhere along that seam.
McCumber Lake
East of Redding and Shingletown off Highway 44, the small impoundment of McCumber Lake is a good winter option, because there is always water moving through the lake, which keeps food on the move, too. Most of the trout are holdover hatchery rainbows, but there is also a small contingent of wild browns that sometimes grow to prodigious size. Great areas to try include just below the inflow and above the outflow.
Kicking Back
It’s especially important to be safe and comfortable during winter fishing. A few places mentioned here (Baum Lake, McCumber Lake, and the Pit River) are at some altitude, which means they can get very cold. When the temperature drops below freezing, I can generally find something I’d rather do than go fishing. When the air temperature is in the 30s, though, fishing isn’t bad if you are prepared. Just make sure you have a good handle on the predicted weather before heading out.
For some reason, I’ve always equated winter fishing with good eating. Whether I’m wading or sitting in a boat, I always try to bring some kind of feast to look forward to. Hot beverages such as coffee, tea, or even soup can add an element of warmth and satisfaction that’s hard to beat. Sandwiches, chips, pickles, raw veggies, and dips are all worth looking forward to. While I tell myself fishing is the most important thing, I sometimes wonder if the fishing trip isn’t just an excuse to feast in a beautiful place.
Bring plenty of layers — fleece, down, and Gore-Tex. Layering allows you to dial in your comfort level and change with changing conditions. If you plan on wading, bring an extra change of clothes, and in the unlikely event of an unscheduled swim, have a buddy close at hand. Do not venture out in the cold by yourself.
There are plenty of frosty places where fly anglers tie flies all winter long and salivate over catalogues, but seldom ever venture out actually to go fishing. Northern California can get chilly, but compared with many other places, it’s the banana belt. This winter, instead of just thinking about going fishing, make it a point to get out there and become that guy having all the fun.
